The 28-year-old, dubbed the "Russian Rocket," was accompanied by a crescendo of noise as he twice scorched down the Sanki track to establish a 0.56 second advantage over Dukurs going into Saturday's remaining two heats.

World champion Tretiakov, who finished one place behind silver medallist Dukurs on the podium in 2010, blitzed to a track record 55.95 on his first slide and extended his lead further the second time around to clock a combined 1.51.99.